Holiday shoppers hit mom and pop shops for Small Business Saturday

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NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Smaller crowds were reported during Black Friday this year so were shoppers out for Small Business Saturday? It’s not over yet!

Local shop owners count on holiday business to stay afloat and are hoping for the best this year.

There were customers waiting outside before the women’s boutique Nanako opened in NoLita Saturday morning.

“We really depend on the holidays because in January and February retail can be really slow,” owner Keith Miller said.

Shoppers are urged to take a break from the big box stores and chains the Saturday after Thanksgiving and visit mom and pop shops.

This is the 5th year of Small Business Saturday.

“It’s a celebratory day to really rally your community, your small businesses together, and bring economic strength to preserve your neighborhood and boost the economy in general,” Small Business Saturday Spokesperson Nicole Reyhle said.

According to the National Federation of Independent Business, on this day last year, shoppers spent 5.7 billion dollars at small shops and restaurants. Money that goes back into the community.

Mary Hilton-Reid of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn was shopping at the clothing store Kaight on Atlantic Avenue. She said she makes a conscious choice to support local merchants.

“If I can find something at a smaller store, I feel better about it,” Hilton-Reid said.